Amend Criminal Code to curb cell phone use while driving, coroner says

The federal government should amend the Criminal Code to introduce tougher penalties to discourage people from using their mobile phones while driving, a Quebec coroner says.

Michel Ferlandwantsatrafficfatality or injury caused by driving while using a phone to be considered a crime, much like driving while drunk. Cell phone usewhile driving is currently only considered a violation of the Highway Safety Code.

• Despite crackdowns, distracted driving remains a problem across Canada

Ferland made the recommendationin his report on the death of Jimmy Brunet-Rotondo, a28-year-oldtruck driver, who was killed earlier this year in an accident onHighway 13 in Laval.

Brunet-Rotondodidn't react fast enough to a sudden slowdown in a traffic caused bya broken-down vehicle, the coroner's report said.His cab was crushedbythe truck ahead of him.

Brunet-Rotondo was pronounced dead at the hospital, leaving behind hispregnant girlfriend,Marie-Chantale Daigle.

A common distraction

The coroner believesBrunet-Rotondo wasdistracted at the time of the crash.

There were no tire marks on the road and a witness saidBrunet-Rotondodidn't brake until moments before impact, which "strongly suggests he didn't have his eyes on the road and was distracted by other things," the report said.

Phone records indicate Brunet-Rotondo posted on Facebook five minutes before the collision.His cell phone was found on the floor of the passenger side of the truck.

According to a recentU.S. study,cell phones are one of the most common distractions for drivers.

Drivers engaged in text messaging on a cellular phone are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash, or near-crash event, compared with non-distracted drivers.

'I think it could make a difference'

In his report,Ferlandsaid hewantspolice to have more powerto seize information from the driver's phone to prove their suspicions in court.

He also wants the province to devote more police resources to cracking down on the problem.

In an interview,Daiglesaid she agreed with the coroner's recommendation that penalties should be stiffer for driving while distracted.

"I think it could make a difference," she said.

• Police chiefs want new law that would compel people to reveal passwords